Expat wanderer

Where Atz Lee Kilcher and Family Really Live (JOKE!)

First, this really is not where Atz Lee Kilcher lives, but as we drove out to the end of the road going up Kachemak Bay, we saw so many houses that look self-sustaining, or as self-sustaining as possible. We saw old Volkswagon buses, used as chicken coops, old school buses used as green houses; we saw a lot of homesteads that looked like they were using solar power and growing a lot of their own produce. We saw horse barns and ATVs and cranes and big barns. We saw all kinds of signs of self-sustaining people who are loving life in Homer, Alaska.

Do you know who Atz Lee Kilcher is? The Discovery Show has a reality show called Alaska, the Last Frontier, and it is one of my guilty pleasures. I have a good friend whose husband also follows the adventures of this hard-working, self-sustaining family. My friend joked with me as we left “Say hello to Atz Lee for us!”

So as we drove along, looking at all these wonderful homes, I saw this one, and thought to myself . . . maybe this is where the Atz Lee family really lives. They film all these outbuildings, and the family going out hunting in boats, or taking their cranes on their barge, or taking their horses to run the cows back home – but maybe “reality” is all that AND they live in comfort in this beautiful house outside Homer. Atz Lee Kilcher does live on Kachemak Bay and there are a lot of lovely houses along Kachemak Bay.

Remember, this is a joke, I do not know where Atz Lee really lives, only when I looked at this house I thought it would be funny if this is where they really lived.

UPDATE: When I wrote this post, it was a joke, and I had no idea how many people would come her to see where the Kilchers live. Actually, without knowing, we were on the Kilcher road, and I believe this home is on the same road which connects to Kilcher road, called Merrimac road. You can see Kilcher road on Google Maps:

It isn’t far out of Homer, an easy drive. The scenery is BEAUTIFUL. The Kilchers homesteaded one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Related

[…] Every Sunday and Monday I get a bunch of hits on an entry I did back in August about where the Kilch…. The Kilcher family is featured on a Discovery Channel show called Alaska The Last Frontier. It was a joke because I had no idea where they lived; we just wanted to explore the roads around Homer and that was a house I saw – and there were a lot of really nice homes in Homer, homes that looked like they had a lot of self-sustaining features – barns, corrals, heavy farm machinery, solar panels, chicken coops, etc. […]

This house is in the 2nd episode of the 1st season “fueling the fire”. It shows up behind Eve when she’s in the garden about half way through before she starts talking about the root cellar. It’s on Netflix. Hmmm….

No, the entire neighborhood was huge horse and cow pens, lovely, sort of hand-crafted looking (very Alaskan) looking houses with big gardens, pieces of machinery and tractors lying around, some under cover, some not, some rag-tag buildings falling down, sheds – it was a real mix. Very real people kind of area, not unlike Juneau, where I grew up. It’s just hilarious I took that photo, thinking it was NOT really a Kilcher house and it really was. We were just driving down different roads looking at the scenery and the wild flowers – across Kachemak bay are like four or five or six huge glaciers spilling down into the water. It was a hot August day, and the light just gleamed off the glaciers.

I liked this house because of the arched windown; someone had gone to some extra trouble, and also all the main floor windows were full of plants. It’s a huge house, thought, I can’t imagine it’s just two (three) people living there.

I strongly suspect the house belongs to Eve’s father. As a child and teenager, she spent summers at her father’s house, very near the Kilcher homestead, and the rest of her time at her mother Dena’s home in Gustavus. As Eve’s high tunnel and her garden bed (or one of them, anyway) are located right near this house, and I’ve read that she started her “Steller Gardens” (Steller being her middle name) CSA garden share business before she and Eivin married, I really believe this is the house where her father lives.

Comment by Jodi F. |
June 26, 2015

After I wrote that post, maybe a year after, I also saw that same house on House Hunters Alaska, or Selling Alaska, something like that. It was empty, so if it had been Eve’s father’s house, I believe it has been on the market, and likely sold since then. Fascinating information, and thank you for commenting 🙂

Also the Kilcher’s are not poor. they are very rich.Otto Kilcher is worth 4 million and Eve Kilcher 2 mill atz worth have 5. Also Atz daughter jewel Kilcher is a singer. she sold 30 million albums world wide….

Those “Net worth” Web sites aren’t even close to being correct. I don’t know how much liquid assets the Kilchers have, however, much of any listed wealth comes from the value of their land, equipment, animals, etc. You can have a worth of $5M and only have a hundred dollars in the bank. Not saying this is the case. Just saying don’t be mislead by those Net Worth Web sites. Oh, yeah. Jewel’s wealth is not part of the rest of the family’s.

Joe, having money and still living frugally is a very Alaska thing. I would imagine that most of the Kilcher worth is in property, and unless you sell it, or develop it, you might farm it or keep houses or cattle, etc. on it, but you will also be paying taxes on it. I would also imagine that they get paid for their performance on Alaska The Last Frontier, and at the same time, I believe they live close to the land because it is a family value.

If it is Eivin’s house – and I am not sure, because in the current season, the house they show does not look like the house in this picture – then I would be truly sorry for invading their privacy. I would think that perhaps it is a Kilcher family house, or perhaps Eve’s family house, and the garden shot was taken there more for illustrative purposes . . . it is a very large house for two frugal people, and would be costly to heat in winter.

look it up. Atz sr net worth 3 million Otto 4 million. these people are not stupid Otto is a very skilled mechanic{very valuble in Alaska} he also runs a boat transportation business. Atz sr is a established story and song writer. he also makes baskets/hats. Yodles at weddings and other ceremonies. AtzKilcher.com Very skilled people!

I enjoy it, too, Gail, but I will admit that when they did the episode about home medical care, I kind of had to laugh; they are only a car ride away from a good doctor – maybe 10 minutes on a summer day, maybe an hour, max, if the roads are icy and the snowplow hasn’t come. They have ATVs and tractors; I am willing to bet they have cars, too, and shop at the local Safeway.

Welcome, Mountainraingoddes, and thank you for your comments and valuable insights. Not all the comments you are making are on what I have written, but on this one, what comes to mind is what I think of as “dramatization” on the show, watching Otto stitch up his own wound on one of the shows. I am a great admirer of sustainable life-style, and I love watching A:TLF. Stitching up one’s own serious wound when professional medical help is nearby took it a little far, in my book. I was delighted to see Eve going to a hospital to deliver her baby, and Atz Lee being treated in a hospital when he took his very serious fall. That’s more in line with what I think of as “keeping it real.”

I particularly like the hunting and fishing, and the emphasis on safety and respect for the hunting culture. I grew up with people scarred from bear attacks, disfigured – but thankful they survived, glad to be alive. I like that this show lets wild animals be wild animals and does not make them cute.

I love seeing how the Kilcher clan solve problems, how they work together, how they work hard to be as sustainable as possible, but we don’t see Jane and Eve weaving cloth for those flannel shirts or denim jeans. I grew up in Alaska, on an island, so I laughed when you described the differences between Alaska and the Outside (do people still call it the ‘lower 48?’) and the males behavior toward females – you nailed it. Again, thanks for your comments and input.

They are human beings, with families and have the right to everything anyone else has. I think their show is GREAT. They have obviously, peaked your interest, or you wouldn’t have checked all this out. Keep your opinions to yourself. These people are flesh & blood and are making allot of peoples lives happy and entertained.

I honestly don’t believe the author was trying to downplay or “bag” on the show. It’s a very good article with valid points. And as the author pointed out, it was a joke. And, it’s spelled “piqued”, not “peaked”.

I don’t see Atz as much of a cowboy. If he was he’d be roping off his horse, not getting off and chasing a calf on foot and trying and trying to rope it. Probably, his
Horse isn’t trained for that, but why not?

I don’t know how many cowboys you’ve ever been around but Atz is the heart of a true cowboy. I live in rural Nevada where buckarooing is a natural part of life. What and how Atz does, is EXACTLY what being a cowboy is all about. I envy him and his entire family.

Did you not see the episode where either Atz Sr or Otto was teaching Atz Leef and Eivin how to rope on a stationary cows head? Atz Lee won’t be roping from a horse until he learns. Atz Sr is the real cowboy.

People probably don’t realize after they do a show like this that suddenly they will have a bunch of moron’s driving around staring at their property just because they saw it on a screen in their living rooms. Im sure Otto has probably erected a gate by now..

LOL, you don’t even have to be a moron! All the roads are full of fantastic, glorious views of the glaciers and mountains, and local wildflowers! Having a gate and posting a sign is a very rural Alaska thing to do, also having a big loudly barking dog. I say this as an Alaska girl, born and bred.

Exactly. Homer is one of the most beautiful places in Alaska, (outside of the rain forest in southeastern Alaska) and given the chance, I recommend that anyone with the opportunity pack a cooler, a sleeping bag and a tent and just drive. It’s absolutely AMAZING!!! If you can afford the Alaska Marine Highway, I also recommend “island hopping” across the Southeast. I spend a month each summer doing that and love it. I’ve been doing it for 5 years and have only gotten a room for a total of about 20 nights in 5 years, mostly to shower or wait for the ferry to depart.

I agree, Robbie, and thank you for your comments. We can’t wait to get back to Homer; it is a very cool place. We are also big fans of the Alaska Maritime Highway System, and took it our first time to Homer. It’s the Alaskan way to travel, that and those small amphibious planes.

intlxpatr… also a Kilcher fan here. The DW and I always catch the episodes, have from season 1. BTW, you know Ruth and Yule had 8 children? 2 boys (which are on the show) and 6 girls. If you want to research any further, look for Ruth’s Obit. That should get you started. (o:

Oh, and don’t forget… this is a “true” Reality Show. I would dare to guess that what you see is <10% of their REAL lives and with this they have taken many liberties, for effect, in the show. They don't all live in "the sticks". Most live in Homer or Anchorage…. the "Kilcher Homestead" has assured them of this.

Needless to say, it's a big family and I'm sure they have had their ups-n-downs. But being how they were brought up…. they are hardcore survivors and I suspect could weather most any storm. Very diverse family and very musically oriented.

Thanks, Seymour. I am still addicted, even though I have been twice in Homer now, and know the shops and hospitals and the closeness of the homestead to resources and community. I still enjoy their ingenuity in creative solutions to challenges, and how they use their junk to make machines and even a rolling sauna, LOL!

TV is amazing. BUT also misleading. The Kilcher family doesn’t live life as portrayed, the whole thing is an illusion. These folks aren’t poor, owning excavators,
Bulldozers, many other toys. When it first started I googled the family name and checked the net worth on each of them.. anywhere between 4-6 million dollars each.I discovered SO, sure if I have several millions of dollars I could also put on a performance of living in the wilderness, surviving off the land.. Again it’s all a shame.. FURTHERMORE they never mention that any resident of Alaska gets a stipend from the State of Alaska oil pension plan, that’s right, they get a check regardless of their age so, if there are 9 people in the family, from infant to elderly, each member gets a check (all the same amount ) 9 nine checks at 2000 each is $18,000. They never say anything about that, do they ?.. LASTLY, I’m kind of shocked why TV fans don;t say anything about how each Kilcher males, except for Ivan, treats their wives, they scream at, yell, swear and do much to demean or degrade their wives … Is that also a performance ? I certainly hope so !!… The series puts on a great exhibition of an illusion. and Don’t forget the one of the patriarchs, ATZ SR. is a well known folk singer and his daughter is extremely wealthy but she never is on the show…. again that would only expose the illusion. It is she and her dad who sing the theme song… Series very entertaining but also very fake..Same is true with the other show, Billy Brown and his 7 kids, Billy is a published author who, again, isn’t hurting for cash and also who,again with every member of his family, receives a yearly check from the State of Alaska Oil Pension Plan. He and his wife and their 7 kids ( 9 checks each year ) .. but we again, never hear about this…Lastly all these stars are getting paid as well, I guarantee that each one is making far more than $50,000 per season,more like $50,000 per episode .. Just an FYI when next watching this.. LIFE BELOW ZERO is much more realistic but again they also get the same check from the state and are paid actors as well …

Dave, what you have said is full of truth, and also full of opinion. I am also a born Alaskan, and I love this show for all the self-reliance they show. It is “reality” TV, i.e. to some extent they are putting us on, but who is going to watch a show about normal people living normal lives 5 minutes outside of Homer, Alaska, one of the most livable and wonderful little towns on earth? I agree with the demeaning treatment of the females, some of which I believe is generational and cultural. Eiven and Eve give me hope for the future 🙂 They show a way of life familiar to me – sometimes you have to get water from the creek, you only shoot what you intend to eat, and you show reverence for life, you grow your own, you make your own, you take care of your own . . . these are very Alaskan ways of doing things. But yes, you are also right, all is not as it appears. They take creative license with “reality”

Homer is “livable” by Alaska standards. For most people from Outside, it is remote with little to offer. Because of its remoteness, most people would want to be in Homer only for its stunning scenery on a short vacation, not to live there.

The town of Homer isn’t as “accessible” as Alaskans lead the rest of the country to believe; it is accessible by Alaska standards, not by Outside standards (the rest of the country’s standards). Yes, it is has a road to it, but that road is in friggen’ Alaska! Just getting to Alaska itself is a first hurdle. Then going from the largest city in the state, Anchorage, to a town like Homer is a drive of several hours and how easy that is is dependent on the season. Yes, Homer has a big grocery store, a very few but expensive restaurants and a bakery, and medical care, but those resources are vastly more limited than what people Outside are used to and they are way more expensive! Compared to most urban places in the country, Homer’s amenities are very limited and costs too much.

The Kilchers won’t really starve if they don’t hunt enough meat for the winter, but they are subsistence Alaskans so shopping in the local grocery store is not something they think is okay for them so they make it their goal to live off the land. The show exaggerates for drama all that life or death hunting and growing for food stuff, but the lifestyle it shows the Kilchers living is real.

Why get hung up on what they make, so what if they make money we all have to make it somehow. They make theirs by singing, repairing things, animals, etc…. they’ve done well for their selves wish I could have done that in my life time just enjoy the show.

Yea I wondered about the $$$ . Do any of them get welfare or any other aid? Love the show but living in WV JUST AS TOUGH. If you’re 1 mile from town it may as well be 50 miles when you have heavy snow or a natural disaster where roads are closed and no Government or anyone to help you. And yes we get more snow in Preston county, WV then they do in Homer, ALASKA.

I agree about the snowfall, Rob. I’ve been colder in Kansas than I ever was living in Alaska. Then again, Alaska is at the end of a long supply chain, and Homer is a little farther out on the chain, the Kilcher homestead even a little further. When the snow falls, you can be socked in for a while.

Welfare? Why would they? The U.S. doesn’t allow women and children to receive welfare if a man in in the home (how’s that for breaking up families? You can thank the Reagan administration for that one.) And have you not heard of Clinton’s Welfare Reform that makes it impossible for women and children to receive welfare for more than five years out of their entire lives? Welfare does not exist as it once did.

Alaskans do not get $2000.00 each stipends from the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. Where do you get such silly numbers? Believe me, PFD checks do not come close to what it required to live in the very high cost of living state of Alaska. No one in their right mind would think it is enough to be an incentive to live there.

I don’t agree that the Kilcher men are shown demeaning and screaming abusively at their wives. A spat now and again is entirely normal in a marriage, especially long-term marriages, and that isn’t “abuse.”

However, the Kilchers and the show are definitely male-centric. The current generations of Kilchers are not as sexist as their patriarch, nor as severe as fathers, but they are male-centric. That aspect of their culture is normal in Alaska though. Alaskans are sexist compared to most other parts of the country. Alaskan men, in general, tend to be dismissive of women, and also, are the least gallant men I personally have ever encountered. They ignore women struggling in the snow and ice, they don’t open or hold doors for women, they don’t lift things for women, they don’t talk to women they don’t know, and the women they do talk to, like in the workplace, they talk down to. Women have to really be hard-asses to be taken seriously and treated with respect. Alaskan men don’t know they are like that, but they are. The younger ones aren’t as bad as the older ones, but are still different from most younger men Outside. It’s a different culture, still stuck in the past in some regards. I’d say the Kilcher men speak to and more respectfully to their wives than do a lot of other Alaskan men I’ve encountered over the years.

I want to know what happened to the two children that were shown on the first couple of season. These were Atz Lee and Jane’s. They all of a sudden were no longer included in the storyline. It seems odd that these two children just disappeared.

I think I remember reading somewhere that they made a decision to protect their children from too much visibility. That segment shown recently is from way back, I think the first season. We haven’t seen them for a long time. I am betting that happens with the newer children, too as they get close to school age.

I love the kilchershow and I hope after their grief is under control they return to Alaska the last Frontier they are good people who bring a good wholesome lifestyle to a lot of people. My condolences to all the kilchers
You are in my prayers.

im a bit envious of their self sustaining lifestyle,i think we all wish we could survive this life. wonder how their life would be lived without the tv show.my guess is they had earned some money before the tv show and could buy some the things they need to continue living this life.

I’m disgusted at Atz Lee whining that he can’t do anymore because his “PTSD” kicked in. How dare he insult our military personnel who have been deployed 2-5 times to the Middle East and come back with “real PTSD.” Get over yourself and stop being so selfish and self-centered. Go help Shane build his house – you don’t need another one. You don’t take care of what you have! Why does is seem that Atz’s two sons are so lazy and worthless while Otto’s are always bush “working” at something and building?

PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome! What part of that says it is a military only issue! This is how we arrived to everything is racist…. Do your research, before you blurt or spew out senseless garbage! He fell off a cliff, in the dark. Lucky to live. Found hours later. And air lifted to a, yes Hospital that could deal with his severe injuries. It was traumatic and stressful. And as with anybody. We deal with shit after the fact. That is the POST! So he in today’s reference, is dealing with or had PTSD!

And while I’m here! The show has never said they are not able to get food or other supplies! Only that they are living on and from the land! As much as they can. Yes they have equipment. And family land, from the earlier generation. A land claim from homesteading, as is what was how it was then. When they settled there. They had jobs or businesses before this show. They are living as they did before they were on the show! Yes, they now have money from the show. But to use the net worth of. From online sites is not true! That is including all they own in property as well! Yule Kilcher had 8 children. 2 boys and 6 girls, as I understand. The homestead is vast in acreage. I, we don’t know. Who is all part of this land today. We never see the women of the Yule Kilcher family. Only the men! Otto and Atz are the only family center of the show!

In my research I found.

First off, the Kilcher family of Alaska: The Last Frontier is worth a lot of money and not just because of their show. If you include the value of the family homestead outside of Homer, AK, they are worth an estimated $16 million dollars. Of course, that number doesn’t even include what Jewel is worth at all.

It turns out that if you are on a reality show and not really famous, then you make about $1,500 per episode or about $19,500 for a standard 13-episode season. That would not be the stars of Alaska: The Last Frontier, though, because they are more popular than that price tag. They aren’t as big as some reality stars like the Kardashians, but someone on a show like Alaska: The Last Frontier makes about $7,000 to $10,000 an episode. That is a pretty good paycheck when you consider that is for every single family member on the show.

The show Alaska: The Last Frontier is huge for Discovery. The Kilchers have a huge fanbase and the fact that that they were able to get Jewel on this season is huge. You can easily assume they probably make this much money per episode of the show. The way that they live, they don’t spend a ton of that money either. It is unknown if they do pay them as a family instead of individually, but if they do that, then they might make even more money.

Thank you, Darrel, for all your research and for sharing it here. As you can see, I wrote this post four years ago, and it has grown a life of it’s own. I can hardly claim to be an expert on the Kilchers, but I am a fan and enjoy the show.

I totally agree that Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is not a strictly military thing – it can happen to anyone. Suffering from PTSD can be seriously debilitating, no matter what the cause.

Those statements are so judgemental. Some folks with PTSD may have survived a war zone, but PTSD can appear from any traumatic event. Im pretty sure falling 4 stories down a dark hole/cliff would be considered a potentially fatal event. Having an accident where you think you are gonna die is a very traumatic event for the brain to comprehend. Trust me, i had a blowout and my car somersaulted 150 yards down an interstate median. I assure you I developed PTSD after that accident. As did my niece who following behind me in another vehicle and witnessed my accident. She was a teenager at the time and is in counseling to this day. That happened 10 years ago. PTSD isnt a joke.

One final jewel in the Kilcher Family crown? Eagles Rest, the 3200-square foot chateau Atz Kilcher crafted out on the homestead, which the family rents out to anyone who’s willing to make the trek. The house isn’t cheap–it costs $413 per night, on average (or $150,000 per year if it’s booked solid)–but the breathtaking views are exactly what Alaska TLF fans have come to expect of the show. This is the house in the picture.

No kidding, that is the Kilcher house? We really were there? I think Homer is one of the most beautiful places on earth. We’ve been there twice, just for the wildlife and the glaciers, the sheer gorgeousness of it all. We hope to go back one day soon, and take the Alaska Marine Ferry System down to Dutch Harbor.

How upsetting. The life they seem to live is remote and unforgiving… Not sure if I will follow anymore. I believe this family is tight and think Jane (Christina) is cheating on at with all the dudes shown on tv and her decision to stay put. Disappointing on what has been betrayed through the point discovery has been portraying as a self sustaining homestead with roads accessinble to heir home

How can you say such a horrible thing about Jane. You have a sick mind. In the first place there ia a whole crew of camera people etc. following them around. These people are gracious enough to share their way of life with us and you insult them. I apologize for you. Thank you Kilchers for a great show.

have only just found the series on dmax but found new series on discovery(16) have missed series 4 to 15 which is a pity as i find it really enjoyable! love winter scenes the most as ireland has mostly rain!

3/17/17 watched the show, two inconstancies. 1). Charlotte looked for calf in the nite, said “Otto is away.” suddenly he showed up! 2). Jane & Atz Lee suddenly have two kids! When ATz Lee goes hunting he says he “has to find food for his family.”

Well, Cat, it is reality TV . . . 😉 The first is just funny, the second – I can’t fault them for keeping their kids off the show. Their kids probably get picked up every day by the school bus and taken to their local school. I would want my kids to live a normal life, and would probably keep them off, too. Your third example is hilarious, but also very Alaskan; there is a Safeway about fifteen minutes away, but it’s always nice to have a freezer full of meat to rely on. People really do can vegetables and fruits, smoke fish, cut fish up and freeze it, butcher meat and freeze it. Any money you save can be spent in the salvage yard buying big boy toys like excavators and cranes 🙂

I wonder if any of you have priced groceries there. Eggs $12.00 a doz. I was watching a vacation channel and the prices they gave for groceries would give anyone living in the lower 48 a heart attack. Forget about meat. that’s self preservation raising, hunting and growing your own food. The way food is going up now more people are raising and growing food. Before you blast me do a little research.

Love the post….. I need some help if there is anyone willing. I am looking for a local attorney to help me find a piece of property to homestead. I do not want a realtor! I know I’m taking a stab in the dark, but I am reaching out to anyone and everyone where ever I can. Thank you for taking the time to read this and by some stoke of luck, maybe someone can help. God bless

@ Katy – We actually bought groceries in Homer, and I believe eggs were running around $4/dozen in June of 2014. Homer is only a couple hours from Anchorage, has an airport, ships come in, has a relatively moderate climate. Trucks supply the local Safeway, and quick shops. You can also order off Amazon. You are probably right about the costs in some of the more remote areas; prices can go higher, but Homer is about 126% of our national average, higher, but not heart attack high.

Thats how it is with all shows.they dont live the hard life.there better off then u or me.the browns….. Rainy wears expesivie jeans nice clothes .moved to calf.got a house.THEY HAVE MORE MONEY THEN MOST OF US…..AND NICER CLOTHES. AND HOUSES.WHILE I STRUGGLE TO PAY MY BILLS ….WORK HAVE HEALTH ISSUES …..ITS NOT RIGHT…STOP PLAYING PEOPLE FOR FOOLS.U GUYS ALL OF U GET PAID BIG BUCKS.GIVE ME A FAKE GUY.ILL SPLIT IT HIM FOR THE SHOW.

The show is based on the Kilcher’s lifestyle. With television production of a “reality” series, you do have to decide what will be filmed PRIOR to filming. No one ever said it was a documentary, did they? However, all of the activities filmed ARE indicative of their lifestyle. Of course they could go buy all of their food at Safeway. But why would they when they can hunt for organic meat, fish for wild salmon and grow organic vegetables. Hunting, gathering, fishing and gardening is the intelligent and economical choice. Im sure more people would do the same if that was available to them. That being said, many people are simply to lazy to work that hard to keep themselves fed. We all want the easy way out. The “Alaska Fund”(sic) is pennies compared to the cost of living. And why shouldnt they be well compensated for having the intrusion in their lives? Look at how much professional athletes are paid and they certainly dont have to deal with the loss of privacy that “reality” show cast members endure. Let alone the criticisms. I believe thats 1 of the biggest problems our world faces today (behind famine, human trafficking, war, slavery, etc) is JUDGEMENT OF OTHERS. Leave the judging to the Courts. Live by The Golden Rule. At least, thats what the 3 major world religions teach.

I have watching this show for a long time now.I really don’t think any of them actually live there especially Otto. That house they live in is a total mess.Junk cars,machines and other crap all over the property and so close to that house. Otto and his wife are depicted as being very messy.

Hmmm. How is it that Yule Kilcher fled Europe when the Nazi’s were coming to power, came to America, was given a homestead in Alaska, and never had to serve in the military during the 1940s? Many Americans served, and died…what about Kilcher?

I am a writer and a story-line editor, born in Chicago, with a background of working in law for almost three decades. Because of this, I have learned so much from the Kilcher Family. If we ever have to survive a serious planetary event, we will now know how to stay alive off the grid . . . that is if we are strong enough, and willing to work hard. Water, wood and shelter first–then we need to fish and hunt.

My only question about the show is what happened to Yule’s wife? Otto, Atz, and their sons, give tribute on every episode to Yule, but I have only heard mention of Otto and Atz’s mother once. Was she not the one who bore eight children in the wilderness? Is she not buried next to her husband?

Also, was Otto married to someone else before the series started? Is this unmentioned women Eiven’s mother? Eiven refers to his mother in the series by her first name.

As a female, it saddens me that these important women are almost erased from any recalled memories. Can someone who really knows fill us in on what happened to these women?

Finally, my admiration goes to Eve. If you want to be loved in this world, you need only model her kind and gracious being. I truly hold her in high esteem. Eiven is a perfect partner as well, and they are both extraordinary loving parents.

The Kilchers have reminded all of us what our grandparents went through when many of them first came to America. On the Dutch side of my own family my 8th great grandparents, Jan and Elsje Pieterszen Staats, arrived as part of the original Dutch Colony on Manhattan Island in the 1600s. They too were farmers, and I now know firsthand how amazing they were.

That is fascinating. I remember seeing this house on a TV show, Selling Alaska, I think, and it showed a root cellar I had seen on Alaska: The Last Frontier. When you lived in the house, did it have a room in the downstairs with a lot of shelves? I am not sure if the room had a window.